Marilyn Smith

On Monday, June 23, 2025, God called home one of His precious angels, Marilyn Rozene (Howse) Smith. Today we celebrate Marilyn and her homegoing. Marilyn was born to the late William and Cornelia Chiles Howse on July 18, 1943, the second of nine children. She was proceeded in death by her parents and two brothers William and Ronald. Marilyn was always a unique individual who, because of a childhood illness was a homebound student for two years when she was twelve years old. After two years, Marilyn tested and skipped her next grade when returning to the classroom. She was always a serious student which resulted in her graduating from both high school and undergraduate college with honors. She was a graduate of Pearl High School, Class of '61, Tennessee A&I State University, with a B.S., Class of ’65 and the University of Tennessee with M.S., Class of ’71. In addition to being a good student, she was popular with her friends and classmates and was elected as “Miss Sophomore” and a member of the Miss A&I Court, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority while in college. Marilyn has been a loyal and faithful member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church for over 59 years having been baptized there in 1956. She served as an Elder of the church, Clerk of the Session and for many years as a Sunday School teacher, a member of the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church choir, an active member of the Women’s Circle 3, and the Middle Tennessee Presbytery. Marilyn always said it was her faith that sustained her and she has been commanded to help others. In following that command, Marilyn was employed as a social worker at Vanderbilt Hospital for 30 years where she was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Master Social Worker (MSW) working in the Pediatric Department. She was a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and the National Association of Social Workers and received numerous awards and citations, two of which she was most proud, the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital’s Social Worker of the Year Award and one presented after her retirement by the College of Social Work, University of Tennessee for a Professional Lifetime of Public Service to the Nashville Community Award. Marilyn also used her counseling skill with the Tennessee Department of Family and Children Services, the Tennessee Department of Public Health and Meharry Hubbard Hospital. Marilyn loved to travel and took many trips with her friends and family. She was a loyal and trusted friend who was supportive and enjoyed being with them. She was always just a phone call away if they were in need. Her low key, soft spoken, laid back demeaner was what other often admired. Celebrating her life and cherishing fond memories are her loving and devoted sisters, Patricia (Rufus) Smith, Farragut, TN, Judith Alred, Long Beach CA, Sheilla (Gary) Brooks and Helen (William) Cunningham, Nashville, TN, brother, Kevin Howse, Lenoir City, TN, sister-in-law, Carolyn Howse, Ashland City, TN and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, church family and friends.